Wising Up

a youth guide to good living

Dear Youth of the World, You slim down but you wise up. The same direction trees grow. The direction of progress and enlightenment… Dr. Jonas Salk not only invented a vaccine for polio. He also wrote a book about wisdom. Unfortunately, the good doctor diagnosed but didn’t prescribe. He failed to suggest how we might become wiser or even if we could. In fairness, the latter was never his intention. He was a researcher, not a practitioner. In this little book we hope to supply the missing information in eighty leadership principles you can apply every day.

​Written especially for teens and young adults, Wising Up distills the wisdom of many traditions to set out eighty principles of good living in bite-size, two-page spreads. "Know Yourself," "Seize the Day," "Respect Others," "Trust Your Instincts," and "Take Responsibility" are just a few of the dozens of principles explained in no-nonsense, respectful, clear language. Perfect for individual or group reflection, Wising Up is ideal for youth groups in both secular and religious settings and makes a great gift for the teens in anyone's life.

“This book is amazing! I like how it’s a little guide for young people, something that was made especially for us. I would recommend this book for all youth. Not only that, but it can also provide helpful reminders for adults.” (Hapistinna Grace Horne, 19, Enrolled Member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; Founder, Wolakota Youth Council, USA)

“An eye-opening, carefully selected list of 80 principles for good living. This very special book is surely an investment worth making. A must for every young person to read.” (Piotr Umha, 24, Secretary General, Polish Youth Council)

“Most of us take a lifetime to develop wisdom, but this book provides young people with a rich resource of the world’s wisdom to tap into… A great gift for a graduate or someone setting off on a journey.” (Solihin & Alicia Thom, co-authors, Being Human)